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Soundsmith Helios Medium-Output HiFi Turntable Cartridge
£7,999.00 £6,665.83
SKU
Soundsmith Helios
Free UK Delivery
10 Years
New
Special Order
The Helios is the medium-output version of the Hyperion- the top-of-the-line high-output cartridge by Soundsmith. Helios features a specially-designed, hand-formed "cactus spine" cantilever and nude diamond stylus, with the stylus available in Contact Line or Optimised Contour Contact Line shapes. The Contact Line shape is specifically designed to ensure maximum contact by matching the shape of the stylus used to etch grooves in vinyl records. As a part of Soundsmith's Fixed Coil range, Helios also benefits from drastically reduced mass and noise relayed back to your record, as well as the ability to minimise 'stylus jitter', allowing this cartridge to deliver exceptionally clean and detailed sound with minimal distortion. Every Helios cartridge is handmade in upstate New York by Peter Ledermann, President & Chief Engineer of Soundsmith.
Soundsmith Helios Medium-Output HiFi Turntable Cartridge
The Helios is the medium-output version of the Hyperion- the top-of-the-line high-output cartridge by Soundsmith. Helios features a specially-designed, hand-formed "cactus spine" cantilever and nude diamond stylus, with the stylus available in Contact Line or Optimised Contour Contact Line shapes. The Contact Line shape is specifically designed to ensure maximum contact by matching the shape of the stylus used to etch grooves in vinyl records. As a part of Soundsmith's Fixed Coil range, Helios also benefits from drastically reduced mass and noise relayed back to your record, as well as the ability to minimise 'stylus jitter', allowing this cartridge to deliver exceptionally clean and detailed sound with minimal distortion. Every Helios cartridge is handmade in upstate New York by Peter Ledermann, President & Chief Engineer of Soundsmith.
What Soundsmith say
Our new medium output design, the Helios is otherwise technically identical to the Hyperion. The Hyperion is the cartridge of choice for the most esteemed audio equipment manufacturers. Why? Because when they exhibit their gear at Hi-Fi shows, they want their turntable, amplifier or speaker systems to sound the very best that they can! Peter Ledermann‘s radical design utilizes an actual “cactus spine” for the cantilever. The naturally tapered shape, stacked columnar fibers and desiccated resin damping fit the exact parameters of the perfect cantilever: Low mass, extreme rigidity, internal damping, and tremendous strength.
Features
Cartridge Type: Fixed Coil
Stylus Type: Contact Line/ O.C Contact Line
Output: Medium
Output Voltage: 1.1mV
Specification
Type: Fixed Coil / Moving Iron
Mount: Standard ½”
Stylus: Contact Line, Nude, 0.10 mm square Selected
Radius of Curvature: Contact Line or Optimized Contact Line
Cantilever: Hand formed/treated Cactus "Spine"
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.8 - 2.2 g
Effective Tip Mass: 0.30 mg
Compliance: 12 µm/mN vertical, 7 µm/mN horizontal
Frequence Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB
Channel Separation @ 1000 Hz: > 36 dB
Channel Separation @ 50 - 15,000 Hz: > 25 dB
Channel Difference: < 0.5 dB
Output Voltage @ 5cm/sec: > 1.10 mV (MEDIUM)
DC Resistance (DCR): 110Ω
Coil Inductance per channel: 30 mH
Suggested Preamp Gain: 48 - 54 dB
Cartridge Weight: 10.25 g
Recommended Load Resistance: ≥ 1.5kΩ
Recommended Load Capacitance: n/a
About Soundsmith
Soundsmith, a speciality audio manufacturer located just north of New York City, has been a renowned name in the audiophile world since its establishment in 1972. With a commitment to exceptional sonic quality and exceptional value, Soundsmith has earned an enviable reputation among audio enthusiasts. The company is best known for its cartridge expertise, including cartridge restoration and groundbreaking Strain Gauge and Fixed Coil cartridges. Every Soundsmith product is skillfully hand-crafted by a team of skilled artisans and engineers in the company's Peekskill, NY factory.
Made in the USA, Soundsmith takes pride in its four-decade presence in Westchester County, New York. The company offers audio repairs for a wide range of major brands, serving customers from all around the globe. Brands such as Audio Research, Revox, Bang & Olufsen, Nakamichi, Tandberg, Halcro, DartZeel, Jeff Rowland, and McIntosh, among many others, trust Soundsmith for their equipment repairs. Moreover, Soundsmith has a long-standing history of designing and manufacturing various types of audio equipment, showcasing their unwavering dedication to achieving the pinnacle of audio reproduction.
When it comes to vinyl playback, nothing matters more than achieving the best possible sound quality. Soundsmith's highly respected, hand-made phono cartridges are coveted by turntable enthusiasts worldwide. With a wide range of models available, including the Hyperion MKII-MR, Hyperion, Sussurro Gold Limited Edition, Sussurro mk II, Paua mk II, Zephyr MIMC, Helios, Mezzo, Nautilus, Sotto Voce, Norma, The Voice, Aida, Boheme, Zephyr MK III, Carmen MK II, Otello, Irox Ultimate, and Irox Blue, Soundsmith ensures that every vinyl lover can find the perfect cartridge to suit their needs. The extensive range includes low-output and high-output models and specialised models designed for unique applications.
Choose Soundsmith for the ultimate vinyl experience. With their meticulous craftsmanship, unwavering commitment to quality, and a diverse range of phono cartridges, Soundsmith continues to elevate vinyl reproduction to new heights. Discover the perfect match for your turntable and unleash the full potential of your vinyl collection with Soundsmith Cartridges from Future Shop.
Type: Fixed Coil / Moving Iron
Mount: Standard ½”
Stylus: Contact Line, Nude, 0.10 mm square Selected
Radius of Curvature: Contact Line or Optimized Contact Line
Cantilever: Hand formed/treated Cactus "Spine"
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.8 - 2.2 g
Effective Tip Mass: 0.30 mg
Compliance: 12 µm/mN vertical, 7 µm/mN horizontal
Frequence Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB
Channel Separation @ 1000 Hz: > 36 dB
Channel Separation @ 50 - 15,000 Hz: > 25 dB
Channel Difference: < 0.5 dB
Output Voltage @ 5cm/sec: > 1.10 mV (MEDIUM)
DC Resistance (DCR): 110Ω
Coil Inductance per channel: 30 mH
Suggested Preamp Gain: 48 - 54 dB
Cartridge Weight: 10.25 g
Recommended Load Resistance: ≥ 1.5kΩ
Recommended Load Capacitance: n/a
UK Delivery
1. We use Royal Mail 1st Class Services as a Standard Postage Option
Orders received before 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) are usually dispatched the same day by FIRST CLASS post (unless premium postal or timed courier services are selected), subject to stock availability. Over 98% of our orders are usually delivered the next working day including Saturdays.
Standard delivery is usually within 2-3 working days, although 98% of all orders are delivered the next working day including Saturdays . In extreme cases, such as delivery to the Highlands and Islands, this may take 3 days.
All items are fully insured and come with an invoice from Futureshop.co.uk. We use the Royal Mail for delivery of small packages and DPD or Interlink Express for items that weigh over 2KG. Items over 2KG are fully insured and will usually be delivered within 48 hours of placing your order Monday to Friday subject to stock availability. For International orders, we use FedEx Services where customers have selected this option.
Please note, special orders for non-standard cable lengths or custom-made cables may be subject to longer delivery time-scales. This may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
We offer 'Free UK delivery on orders over £99' subject to the following terms & conditions:
- Applies only to orders with £99 or more of items (including VAT at the UK rate), at FutureShop.co.uk
- Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK (excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by UK Mail).
- Applies only to deliveries to addresses within mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses. Applies only to orders that are to be delivered to a single Mainland UK delivery address.
- You will not be eligible for free delivery on your order if any items are cancelled or returned for a refund, bringing the total order amount below £99. Where items are returned, the refund due will be the cost of the item less any postage costs.
- We reserve the right to change or discontinue 'Free delivery on orders over £99 promotion at any time.
- FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £99 OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO TRADE CUSTOMERS.
Free Delivery on orders over £99 utilises Royal Mail First Class postal service for items weighing under 2KG. For items weighing over 2KG, we use DPD or Interlink Express next working day services which deliver from 9.00am to 6pm within mainland UK.
Free Delivery for orders over £99 excludes Royal Mail Special Delivery Services and timed next day delivery services by DPD or Interlink Express.
2. Special Delivery UK - Guaranteed Next Working Day
We have 99.9% of the UK covered With Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery. We guarantee delivery to most UK addresses by 1pm the next working day. This includes Northern Ireland, Jersey and Guernsey. Some places take longer to deliver to but we still guarantee delivery within three working days by 5.30 PM.
For the Next Day Special Delivery service, orders must be received by futureshop.co.uk by 4.30pm weekdays. Orders after the 4.30pm deadline cannot be guaranteed for same day dispatch.
Please note, Royal Mail Special Delivery for next working day may not be possible where non-standard cable lengths are ordered. If this is the case, the item will be shipped via The Royal Mail Special Delivery service as soon as the cable is custom made.
For orders weighing over 2KG, we reserve the right to ship items using Next Day Pre-Noon Courier Services where Royal Mail Special Delivery option has been selected.
3. Channel Islands & Northern Ireland
We accept orders from all Channel Islands including Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. Unless you select a premium service, Items weighing under 2KG are delivered using our standard UK delivery option above. For items weighing over 2KG, a surcharge may be applied for all deliveries to the Channel Islands as well as Northern Ireland.
European Countries
Deliveries to EU member states are subject to 20% VAT. We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 10 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 3 to 7 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 24 to 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm for next day service to most destinations in Europe
- Federal Express International Economy - Item are usually delivered within 48 to 72 hours
Worldwide - Excluding UK & Europe
Deliveries outside of the EU are not subject to 20% VAT and so the 20% tax on items is automatically deducted when you login or register.
We offer the following shipping services:
- Royal Mail First Class International Untracked Airmail Services - Items are usually delivered within 15 working days.
- Royal Mail First Class International Tracked Airmail - Items are usually delivered within 10-15 working days.
- DHL Express International - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. DHL orders must be received by 3:30pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
- Federal Express International Priority - Items are usually delivered within 48 hours. FedEx orders must be received by 3.00pm in order to ship items the same day, subject to stock availability.
Where the actual weight of the package significantly exceeds the shipping cost charged on orders, we may write to you for an additional shipping charge. For larger orders, items may be shipped in multiple packets.
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